Table of contents
- plants in the bed
- Location
- Planting time and correct planting
- repot
- Care after planting and repotting
- Pour
- Fertilize
- multiply
- cuttings
- sowing
- Conclusion
A variety of plant genera and species are home to succulents, Mother Nature's succulent masterpieces. They all share a unique ability to retain water, allowing them to thrive in even the most inhospitable conditions. No matter how hot and dry it may be; Succulents enchant with a furious habit and a magnificent blossom. The most popular representatives are cacti, closely followed by succulent and spurge plants and other representatives. The following practical instructions explain how to properly plant and repot succulents in your garden.
plants in the bed
Hardy succulents for outdoor cultivation are primarily dependent on soil conditions that are similar to natural conditions. In their homeland, the succulent plants thrive mainly in humus-poor soil, which is dominated by mineral components. With regard to the light and temperature conditions, the frost-resistant species and varieties can be planted in all regions of Germany. Even the coldest temperatures of -20 degrees Celsius and lower do not cause them any problems.
Location
As long as you make the right choice of variety, you will enjoy succulents in the garden. You develop your optimum here:
- Sunny to partially shaded position
- Ideally a southern slope
- Humus rich, well-drained soil
- Preferably a combination of clay and sand
Succulents do not value a pronounced nutrient content. They prefer to stretch out their roots in poor, granular substrate. The rock garden, the dry stone wall or the gravel bed are therefore perfect places for cacti, agaves, sempervivum and colleagues.
Planting time and correct planting
It is open for a long time, the time window for planting. You can plant succulents in the ground from March to August. The only requirement for an early date in the year is frost-free soil. Here's how to do it:
- Thoroughly loosen the soil at the chosen location
- Work in a few handfuls of quartz sand, fine-grain grit or lava granules
- Dig a planting pit with 1.5 times the volume of the root ball
- Create a drainage made of inorganic material on the sole
- Place the succulent in the middle
- Fill in the soil so that it is positioned exactly as deep as before
While other perennials thirst for water now, succulents only get a gulp. Ideally, the drought specialists are allowed to establish themselves in the bed for a few days before they are watered for the first time. The hunger artists also do not want to be bothered with fertilizer of any composition. The nutrient supply is only included in the care protocol as part of the subsequent care.
Tip:
Young succulents have to build up their winter hardiness in the first 2 to 3 years. Until then, they are first cared for behind glass in order to then be planted outdoors.
repot
In the planter, succulents set impressive accents on the balcony, the terrace, in the entrance area or on the patio in the garden all year round. This applies explicitly to the cold season, when wintry melancholy spreads in the garden. The same applies to species and varieties that unfold their natural beauty in indoor culture. Since purchased succulents are often in a completely unsuitable substrate made of nutrient-rich potting soil, experienced hobby gardeners do not miss an immediate repotting. Use these instructions to properly plant succulents in the bucket:
- Choose a planter with an opening in the bottom for water drainage
- Spread crushed potsherds or grit on top for drainage
- Use a mixture of equal parts clay, sand and perlite as a substrate
- Optionally use special cactus or succulent soil from specialist shops
- Fill in the potting soil halfway up the pot
- Make a well in it and insert the potted plant in the middle
- Plant the young succulent as deep as before
Since the quality of the substrate is of fundamental importance for the successful cultivation of succulents, it is subjected to a small test before being used in the pot. Take a small amount of the mixture and squeeze it together. The soil is optimally structured if it keeps its pressed shape for a short time after opening your hand, only to then fall apart loosely.
Tip:
The growth rate of succulents defines the time interval at which repotting is required. As a rule, the succulent ornamental plants need a larger planter every 2 to 5 years.
Care after planting and repotting
If you follow this guide to planting and repotting, succulents will require little maintenance attention. The following lines convey what is important when watering, fertilizing and propagating.
Pour
Their impressive water-storing ability doesn't imply that succulents are watered lightly. The less the plants in the bed and on the windowsill have to cope with drought stress, the more vital their growth is. How to handle it correctly:
- Water succulents moderately
- Allow the soil to dry superficially between waterings
- A constant, light moisture remains inside the root ball
- Do not water hardy succulents in beds from September
- Reduce the amount of watering on indoor plants in winter
Moisten the substrate well when watering. Stop the process when the first water drips out of the bottom opening. Water collected in the coaster is emptied after 10 minutes.
Tip:
Succulents prefer rainwater or decalcified tap water at room temperature for watering.
Fertilize
To interpret the frugality of succulents as meaning that they do not need additional nutrients would be fatal. In relation to the speed of growth, regular application of fertilizer is very necessary. Otherwise they will die far too soon; both in the bed and on the windowsill.
- Fertilize slow-growing succulents every 4 weeks
- Fertilize fast-growing specimens every 2 weeks
- Use special mineral-organic liquid fertilizers, preferably potassium-rich
- Stop fertilizing after August so the succulents can prepare for hibernation
Organic fertilizers such as compost or manure are unsuitable for succulents in beds and planters because they can cause the roots to rot. The same applies to plant manure of all kinds. As an alternative to liquid fertilizer, guano sticks or granules can be considered. Pay attention to the smallest possible amount when dosing. An overdose will not cause faster growth, but rather soft, weak shoots. If you prefer mineral fertilizers, the salt concentration should not exceed the 0.1-0.2 percent limit.
multiply
It is a pleasure for every hobby gardener how easy it is to propagate succulents. Depending on the species and variety, the following breeding methods are possible:
cuttings
The fleshy leaves, branches or root suckers are suitable for cuttings. The procedure is the same for all offshoots:
- Cut leaf cuttings to their full size, head cuttings to a length of 10-15 cm
- Dry the plant parts for 1-2 days in an airy, warm place at the interfaces
- Fill small growing pots with a mix of cactus soil and sand
- Insert half of each cutting and support with a match if necessary
Placed in a semi-shady window seat, water your pets from the second week onwards from time to time with collected rainwater. If the offshoots have developed their own root system, repot the young succulents or plant them in the bed according to the instructions above.
sowing
Although succulents differ significantly in their habit, propagation by sowing follows a largely uniform pattern.
- Place a small shard of clay in the seed pot above the water drain as drainage
- Mix lean cactus soil with sand or fill in commercially available seed soil
- Moisten the substrate with a fine shower
- Scatter the wafer-thin seeds on top and thinly sieve with sand or vermiculite
- Place a pane of glass or cover with cling film
- Ideally spend in an indoor greenhouse in a semi-shady location
Wait for germination at a constant temperature of 21-25 degrees Celsius. The cover or the mini greenhouse are aired daily. When the first cotyledons appear, the hood falls away. They are watered regularly until strong young plants have developed.
Conclusion
Following these instructions, you will be familiar with all the essential steps if you want to plant and repot succulents properly. If the modest ornamental plants find a sunny spot in the bed and on the windowsill, the right course is set for splendid growth. A humus-rich, well-drained substrate with mineral components is of fundamental importance. Proper repotting requires drainage above the bottom opening in the planter, primarily to prevent waterlogging.
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